ENQUIRER: Event to raise money for St. Elizabeth auxiliary efforts

Volunteers at St. Elizabeth Fort Thomas are gearing up for their annual card party and luncheon fund-raising event.

The event, which is being held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at the Highland Country Club, is a yearly fundraiser for the Auxiliary of St. Elizabeth Fort Thomas, a group of volunteers who work to make improvements at the hospital.

“Our main goal is to improve patients comforts and services,” said volunteer Lois Basham of Fort Thomas. “We put on this event to ask the community for their help.”

The auxiliary has done a lot for the hospital over the years, said Kitty Pilger, director of volunteer services for St. Elizabeth.

The group was founded the day the hospital opened in 1954.

“The auxiliary has been a very active part of the hospital and community since then,” Pilger said. “This is a remarkable group of people that work hard to improve the hospital.”

Basham said in recent years, the group has purchased everything from televisions for the waiting rooms to new wheelchairs.

The group has paid to renovate various areas of the hospital, including the skilled nursing area and the cafeteria.

Pilger said the group has pledged $75,000 towards building a history wall near the lobby of the hospital.

The wall will include pictures and information about the hospital’s history over the years.

Volunteer coordinator Margie Kuechler said the group also provides scholarships to two high school seniors who volunteer a the hospital every year.

Kuechler said besides the card party and luncheon, all the funds for the group are raised in house through sales of books and jewelery and the proceeds from sales at the hospital’s gift shop.

Last year’s event raised around $3,000 towards the group’s efforts.

The group is still looking for more volunteers to help with the event and throughout the year.

For more information about volunteering, call 301-2140.

For more information about the card party and luncheon, which is $20 a person and includes lunch, raffles, pot-of-gold, card games, call 572-3168.